Find experts in house clearance near me
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Whether you’ve experienced a bereavement, a family member has been taken into care or you need to clear a rental property, a house clearance company can take the weight off your shoulders.
Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about house clearance near you – from who to call to what you can typically expect to pay.
But first…
Want to get started finding a company for house clearance near you?
To find companies for house clearance operating near you, Checkatrade is a great place to start.
Simply enter your postcode into the search box to browse a selection of services in your area.
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Find house clearance companies that work in your area
You can also hire tradespeople for specialist clearance tasks:
When might I need local house clearance services?
Clearing a house is a mammoth task that can be made so much easier with professional help.
Here are just a few scenarios where you might find yourself in need of house clearance services operating near you.
You’ve suffered a bereavement
A family member has been taken into care
You’re a landlord and your tenants haven’t properly vacated your rental property
You’re selling a home and its contents at auction
You or a family member is suffering from a hoarding disorder
You want to clear your home for a completely fresh start
Why hire a house clearance company covering my area?
Although clearing a house – or garage – is certainly a job you can attempt yourself, hiring a house clearance company comes with lots of benefits.
Here are some of the main ones.
Save time
Clearing a house is extremely time-consuming – especially after a bereavement. A house clearance company will be able to handle the whole job for you, taking the weight off your shoulders.
Convenient
House clearance companies typically offer an end-to-end service. So, instead of hiring a skip for waste disposal, hiring a van to transport furniture to local charities and so on, your company will be able to tackle the whole job for you.
Fully equipped
Professional house clearance companies will have everything they need to complete the job for you to a high standard. This includes bringing enough manpower to move heavy objects, and providing transportation for bulky items.
Advanced knowledge
House clearance companies can offer their professional opinion on how best to deal with items you don’t want to keep – including donating items to reuse organisations or local charities, selling valuables via auction or to antique dealers, and taking waste to a waste disposal centre.
Licensing
House clearance companies will have the licenses necessary to dispose of waste for you – so, you know everything is being taken care of safely and legally.
What to expect from nearby house clearance services
Every company will work slightly differently, so it’s always good to check exactly what you can expect from house clearance services in your local area.
However, when you hire a company for clearance in your area on Checkatrade, here’s what you can usually look forward to.
1. No obligation quotes
We always recommend getting at least three quotes from house clearance companies.
Use our ‘request a quote’ feature or search your postcode to find reputable companies covering your area.
Our members will scope out your project and offer you a no-obligation quote, so you can make your choice with confidence.
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2. Helpful advice
Your expert should lean on their knowledge to give you advice and guidance.
In this way, you can be confident that you’re making the right choices and you won’t make any mistakes you’ll regret.
For instance, they’ll often use their judgment to determine how best to dispose of valuables – such as selling them at auction or taking them to an antique dealer.
3. Adherence to the Checkatrade Standard
All our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 checks and commit to upholding the Checkatrade Standard.
As part of this, members agree to six quality commitments:
Deliver a high quality of workmanship
Maintain high standards of personal conduct
Work safely, ethically, and within their skill set
Communicate clearly and honestly
Agree costs and contract terms upfront
Encourage and welcome customer reviews
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
4. Quality service
When you hire a house clearance company through Checkatrade, you can confidently expect a service that meets certain quality standards.
Our tradespeople should never agree to work that they don’t have the skills to carry out.
Rather, when you hire house clearance services, you’ll know they have the knowledge, tools, licences and experience required to carry out the job to the Checkatrade standard.
5. The Checkatrade guarantee
We’re so confident in the tradespeople on Checkatrade that we even offer a guarantee.
Find and book a task through us and we'll guarantee their work for up to £1,000* (*12 months guarantee – Eligibility and T&Cs apply).
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
How does getting a house cleared locally work?
So, how does the process of getting a house cleared in your region actually work?
1. Enter your postcode to browse house clearance services covering your area
Enter your postcode into the box to browse reputable house clearance companies near your address.
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Don’t have time? Just use our request a quote feature instead and we’ll send details of your job out to three of our top companies in your area on your behalf.
2. Get in touch
Reach out to local companies you like the look of, and ask them for a free quote.
They’ll arrange to visit your property so that they can scope out the work and get an accurate picture of your requirements.
3. Compare quotes
Once you receive quotes from the house clearance companies you contacted, it’s time to compare.
Make sure you’re comparing quotes like-for-like, and remember not just to go for the lowest price every time.
4. Choose your favourite local house clearance professional
Pick out your preferred clearance service, let them know you’d like to go ahead, and book a date for the house to be cleared.
They might ask to take a deposit, or they may be happy to take the whole payment after the job is complete. Either way, they should never ask for the full payment upfront.
5. Prepare for the clearance
Separate the items you want to get rid of from the belongings you want to keep, such as useful furniture, antiques or items with sentimental value.
Box up the items you’re keeping, store them together and clearly mark them as not to be removed – otherwise, they will literally take everything!
6. Have your house cleared!
On clearance day, your house clearers will remove all the waste, furniture and rubbish that you’ve designated for removal.
They’ll usually also tally up the resale value of goods they are taking, so confirm this with them while they’re on site.
7. Follow up
After the house clearance, follow up on the resale value of goods.
Depending on the company, they might discount this from the cost of the house clearance or pay you the money if you’ve already paid them.
How to choose a house clearance company near you
So, you’ve decided to go ahead with professional house clearance. Good call!
But you’re probably wondering how to pick the right company for the job.
Here are our top tips.
Read reviews
Always check to see what others have to say about the house clearance services available in your area.
That way, you can make sure to choose a company that others rate.
Get multiple quotes
It’s best to get at least three quotes for clearance .
This will allow you to get a feel for a range of different companies. Plus, you’ll be able to check that you’re getting a fair and competitive price for the work.
Ask how they work
Find out whether the house clearance companies you’re considering will sell valuables on your behalf.
If so, check whether they’ll deduct the resale value from the cost of their services, or whether they’ll give you the value in cash.
Ask about insurance
Check that the builders you’re considering have the right insurance in place. This will give you confidence that you’re protected in case things go wrong.
You’ll be pleased to hear that all our tradespeople must have up-to-date public liability insurance to get listed on the Checkatrade directory.
Check their waste collection registration
Disposing of waste responsibly requires the company to be registered.
Some less reputable companies will simply collect your belongings and fly-tip them somewhere, which you can be fined for if it’s traced back to you. Check the waste collection registration of any companies you’re considering, so you can be sure they’re the real deal.
Get recommendations
Know a friend or family member who’s recently had a house cleared locally? Why not ask if they would recommend the company they used?
Make sure to cross-reference any recommendations on Checkatrade, so you know they’ve also been checked and verified by us.
Use Checkatrade!
At Checkatrade, all our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 checks and are regularly reviewed on everything from punctuality to professionalism. So, you know they’re a company you may be able to trust.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Your questions answered about house clearance near you
Do you have to pay for house clearances?
Yes, usually you have to pay for house clearances.
However, some companies will tally up the cost of the valuables they are removing and offset this against your costs.
Just bear in mind that, depending on the circumstances, you may not need to pay from your own pocket. For instance, in the case of a bereavement, the next of kin or executor of the will can pay using the deceased’s assets.
Similarly, landlords can pass clearance charges onto tenants who have left items behind without permission.
What is the average cost of house clearance?
The cost of house clearance will depend largely on the quantity of items you need to clear.
Extra small clearance (up to 250kg or a quarter van load: from £175
Small clearance (up to 500kg or half a large van load): from £325
Medium clearance (up to 750kg or three-quarters of a large van load): from £400
Large house clearance (up to 1,000kg or a full van load): from £595
Just bear in mind that different companies will have different ways of charging. For instance, some will charge you per volume while others charge by weight or agree a one-off flat fee.
Similarly, there will almost always be additional charges for disposing of or recycling certain items – such as household appliances, building supplies and large items.
Head over to our guide on the cost of house clearance to learn more.
Do local councils do house clearance?
Yes, some local councils do house clearance. However, they’ll (almost always) charge for this service and it can even cost more than using a local company.
Will a house clearance company clear everything?
Some items can be difficult to dispose of, but it’s still possible to find clearance companies who are happy to deal with them. Just ask upfront to check if your chosen company can dispose of things like these:
Asbestos
Medical waste
Flammable substances, such as petrol and diesel
Toxic substances and solvents
Fluorescent tubes
Paint
Large items, such as mattresses and commercial fridges
How long does a house clearance take?
The time it takes to clear a house depends on the size of the job and what needs to be cleared.
A small house clearance with multiple people working can be done in just two or three hours. But a larger house, or a home with lots of clutter or large items, could take longer - up to 12 hours.
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